Nephele

Well noted, Melvadius! Even the AKC website states that the given origin of the Rottweiler is derived from "actual history tempered by reasonable supposition" and that it descends from a "mastiff-type" used by the ancient Romans. The AKC's history of the Neapolitan Mastiff does state that it was a "dog of war" used by the Roman army but, again, it seems that "dog of war" is a general term for what dogs might have been used by the Roman army in actuality (more likely they were used for driving cattle, guarding, etc.). The breed was also probably descended from a "mastiff-type," with the breed that is known today as the Neapolitan Mastiff (again, as given in its history by the AKC) having been "rediscovered in Italy in the 1940's." -- Nephele

The blogger does not give any ancient sources to support his statements that "dogs were outfitted with armor and trained to attack the enemy" in "the early days of the Roman Empire." Despite the fact that Pliny did mention (as I posted above) that certain foreign armies (but apparently not the Romans) used dogs for warfare, it looks to me as though the blogger is merely perpetuating myth, which so many sites on the 'net seem to do. His information on dogs used during wartime in more modern days, and having been recognized for their service, is correct, though. Kudos to you, Faustus, for having rescued a pit bull pup! While I agree with everything you said about the importance of socializing the dog towards people (and you said that very well), I don't agree with you that "probably certain breeds should become extinct to remove the threat." While I'm not into breeding dogs, myself, I can understand the enthusiasm of people devoted to various dog breeds. I have a number of rescued miniature pinschers, from my stint in dog rescue, and I'm fond of the breed. But even my little minpin ankle-biters can be dangerous as a pack should an intruder wander onto my property. (Think of piranha.) The thing is that any breed of dog can be dangerous, as dogs are animals of course and animals can be unpredictable. It's dog-owners who need to be responsible -- and I don't think responsible people who want to own a particular breed of dog should be made to suffer on account of the irresponsible. I'm certainly opposed to government telling us what breeds of dogs we may or may not own. And I definitely would hate to see the U.S. turn into another Communist China, which bans the ownership of all dogs in their cities. -- Nephele

Interesting that you mentioned that, Caldrail. The American Kennel Club gives a history of the Rottweiler breed, stating that while the breed's origin is "not a documented record," there is a likelihood that the breed "is descended from one of the drover dogs indigenous to ancient Rome." The history goes on to relate that these dogs were indeed used by the Roman military -- but not as wardogs in the front lines of battle: "The transition from Roman herding dog to the dog we know today as the Rottweiler can be attributed to the ambitions of the Roman Emperors to conquer Europe. Very large armies were required for these expeditions and the logistics of feeding that number of men became a major consideration. No means of refrigeration existed which meant that the meat for the soldiers had to accompany the troops 'on the hoof.' The services of a dog capable of keeping the herd intact during the long march were needed. The above-described 'Mastiff-type' was admirably suited to both that job and the additional responsibility of guarding the supply dumps at night." It's an interesting article, that you can read in its entirety here. Here in the States, as well as in the U.K. (as you mentioned), the Rottweiler occasionally receives bad press for being a "dangerous" dog. But, actually, it's people who are dangerous when they deliberately breed and train dogs to be aggressive. The problem with the more intimidating breeds is that they do possess the jaw strength to do some real damage if they're trained to do so, or otherwise abused. But I've personally known pit bulls and Rottweilers who are soft as grease and wonderful family dogs. I know that your government has passed the "Dangerous Dog Act" over there, which bans the ownership of pit bulls and a few other breeds. Haven't there been recent calls and petitions over in the U.K. to add the Rottweiler to that list of banned dog breeds? -- Nephele

Despite the warlike dogs that appear in the opening scenes of the movie Gladiator, I'm not convinced that the ancient Romans regularly used dogs for warfare. I couldn't find any ancient sources stating that they did (although it could be that I didn't look far enough). When I was researching my article on the names the Romans gave their dogs, I found references to those big mastiffs of the Romans as having been bred and used primarily for guarding livestock and personal property. One would think that Pliny at the very least might have had something to say in his Natural History about dogs used in Roman warfare, but he wrote only of foreign armies using wardogs: "The people of Colophon and Castabala kept troops of dogs, for the purposes of war; and these used to fight in the front rank, and never retreat; they were the most faithful of auxiliaries, and yet required no pay." (See Pliny's Natural History, Book 8, Chapter 61.) Here's an earlier discussion on the subject of dogs and warfare: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4443 -- Nephele

Welcome, Dyna! Tell your Roman history classmate/friends to come visit, too. I'll be happy to give them all hidden Roman names. And do explore around the site. There's lots here to discover and learn! -- Nephele

It appears that site has changed the URL on you Melvadius, and that URL you gave now goes to a story titled "'Oldest' Julius Caesar bust discovered". (Which has been posted on the forum from a different news source here.) I did a search of the site, but couldn't find the original Mortimer Wheeler article. However, I did turn up this snippet at abc.net.au, in which '60s television journalist Joan Bakewell was discussing her interview experience with Mortimer Wheeler: Oh mercy! But, somehow, I just can't picture our intense Indiana Jones putting his hand on a lady interviewer's knee... Unless she had a small golden Aztec idol tucked in her panties. -- Nephele

Don't spout off, old geyser. I gracefully concede that your volcanic puns are smokin' and I hereby award you with the grand prize of the classic 1965 Shelby Mustang G.T.-350 pictured below: You don't even need to worry about rising gas prices with this baby. Mama got to push while Popocatepetl. -- Nephele

Beautifully expressed, Augusta! Yes, I know that feeling, too! Caroline is in Turkey right now, researching her next book, The Prophet from Epheseus. But I'll let her know what you've written, and I know that she'll be very touched by it. Caroline has included a mention of UNRV (with the UNRV logo) on the news scroll of her website: "Interview News: UNRV (United Nations of Roma Victrix) provides a forum for those who study Rome in all forms. Scholars, students and Romanophiles all meet on the forum for the exchange of ideas. Recently I was interviewed by 'Ursus'. Read the interview HERE, or click the logo on the left." Our Ursus is also quoted in the section of Caroline's site for editorial reviews (scroll down to The Sirens of Surrentum). -- Nephele

Here are additional pictures by photographer Carlos Gutierrez: http://www.upinewspictures.com/Production/...p;pgid=16117421 But for the better resolution and larger pictures, you have to sign up at the site and pay. -- Nephele

Hah! Dream on. When it comes to punning, I graduated magma cum laude. (That one was especially for you, Doc, our dear, rumbling Magistra.) -- Nephele

Is that a sulphurfilling prophecy? As legata, you can put a lid on it, and more power tuya! As legata, I'd sooner kick a brick wall barefoot and Krakatoa, than have the final bad pun that way. -- Nephele

That is indeed a crater worry, and one should take care not be caught dormant. Pumice me there's an end in sight to all this. -- Nephele

-- Nephele

You should be careful. I've heard that lateral vents can be catastrophic. It's when laughing so much leads to a hard ashfall, that you have to worry. Ow. -- Nephele

Bad puns like these just magma sides hurt from laughing. -- Nephele

I was waiting for our resident linguistics scholars, Doc and Silentium, to weigh in here. Thanks, both of you, for an interesting assessment. (If Andrew Dalby were around, I'd be looking forward to his posting here, as well.) While I'm not particularly inclined to peruse the Vatican's website of adhortations, scriptual writings, decrees, etc., all written in a language which I still insist is too good for the Church , I do thank the Catholic Church for maintaining this website: http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/qview.html If you click on the name of your continent, then from there click on the name of a city (containing a Catholic diocese) listed under the name of your country, you will find the Latin name which the Church has given to your city (printed in italics directly under the English name of the diocese). It's fun to see that England's Westminister is "Vestmonasteriensis", Australia's Melbourne is "Melburnensis", Indiana's Indianapolis is "Indianapolitana", California's Los Angeles is "Angelorum in California", and New York is "Neo-Eboracensis". -- Nephele

Yukius, you are a freedwoman of the consul of 454 BCE, Aulus Aeternius Varus Fontinalis. As was customary in Rome, upon obtaining your freedom you took for your own name the nomen gentilicium of your former master, in the feminine form: Aeternia. You kept your original Greek name as your cognomen: Dyna (which means "power; strength"). Your full Roman name is: Aeternia Dyna = itenyeanwnrd -nw +aa Welcome to UNRV! -- Nephele

The following is taken from The Institutes of Justinian, which I believe are Roman laws compiled by the Emperor Justinian which dated back over hundreds of years. From Title X. "Of Marriage", section 7: "Again, it is forbidden for a man to marry his wife's mother or his father's wife, because to him they are in the position of a mother, though in this case too our statement applies only after the relationship has finally terminated; otherwise, if a woman is still your stepmother, that is, is married to your father, the common rule of law prevents her from marrying you, because a woman cannot have two husbands at the same time: and if she is still your wife's mother, that is, if her daughter is still married to you, you cannot marry her because you cannot have two wives at the same time." -- Nephele

Excellent review and interview, Ursus -- brilliantly accomplished! And, thank you, Caroline, for graciously participating! Don't let it bother you, Caroline -- there were only two people who objected, and I have to admit that it *is* funny to see the difference in attitudes between Americans and Brits. And, yes, sadly, those two negative reviewers did miss the point of the story regarding the learning of a valuable life-lesson. I've posted my own little review of Sirens to the American Amazon site. (I also posted to the UK site, but haven't seen my review show up yet.) It should boost the book another star in the ratings, at the very least. I urge others here to do the same! -- Nephele

And if you press the left buttons, those of political corectness and of guilt towards the "opressed" (blacks, women, enviroment, palestinians, cows etc) they will vote acording to their own interests. Too funny, Kosmo. But I think that's what you get when you press the . Harvard graduate Obama, son of a PhD (his mother) and another Harvard graduate (his father) doesn't "fit the mould" because "he ain't rich; he ain't privileged"? wtf is Jeremiah smoking? -- Nephele

Jealous? If I were Bella, I might say that Pouncing Felix there is one fine fancy feast of feline. Even if he probably is the feline equivalent of a sex toy, "superbly crafted...in black and cream suedette" (whoa, mama!). -- Nephele

Now that's a fun idea! Since nomenclature is my thing, I'll mention a popular misconception about Roman names, which appears to be perpetuated on a number of websites. That misconception is that the praenomen "Appius" was "only used by gens Claudia." I'm quoting Wiktionary here, but there are other websites that make the same, sweeping claim. While the praenomen "Appius" originated with the Claudii (being of Sabine origin) and appears to be used exclusively by the Claudii (especially during the time of the Republic), it was not really exclusive to the Claudii. The praenomen "Appius" can also be found in the gentes Annia, Modia, Popidia, and Iunia. One need only check a consular list to find that one of the consuls listed for the year 108 CE was Appius Annius Trebonius Gallus. -- Nephele

Can't help you there. But, this Wednesday is Holey Sfachemes Day in Napoli. I'm sure they have good cause to celebrate. If it wasn't for sfacheme, the descendants of the ancient Romans (tall or short) wouldn't be here today. -- Nephele

"Frankly, it is my kind of conservatism: libertarian, admiring tradition, and employing government only in those areas where government is needed." -- Columnist R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. on Boris Johnson The oracle of the anagram also speaks well for Boris Johnson as our next President, in presenting a convincing campaign slogan. (You knew this was coming, right?) "Principles = Boris Johnson, U.S. President." anagrams into... "Join restored principles, 'n' piss on Bush." -- Nephele

So, I take it you Brits don't figure Boris Johnson, then, for next Prez? I gather he must be quite a character. -- Nephele